Gifts from Malachi: Family of boy killed in crash donates toys for sick kids

Zephan Chance, 9, of Grand Ledge, jokes with his dad Nathan Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, at the Sparrow Children's Pediatric Playroom, where toys donated from the community were dropped off in honor of his late brother Malachi Chance, who died Oct. 31, five days after a vehicle hit Zephan and 11 year old Malachi when they were crossing the street. Also pictured is mom Carrie, and sister, Miranda, 7.(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo

LANSING - Malachi Chance was the kind of kid who always wanted to help others.

So it seemed only fitting that on Tuesday – exactly a year after he died from a traffic accident – his family provided toys for sick children in his honor.

"Things like giving back to other people were very important to him, and just helping people (was important to him)," said Malachi's mother, Carrie Chance. "He was one of those kids who at 4 years old, we were at Red Lobster, and he'd make friends over the lobster tank. He would make friends with anybody."

The family on Tuesday delivered dozens of toys, games, blankets and other items donated by community members to Sparrow's pediatrics playroom. Many of the items will become gifts for children admitted to the hospital.

Malachi, 11, died Oct. 31, 2016, five days after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in downtown Grand Ledge. His younger brother, Zephan, also was hit and suffered serious injuries. Police said the driver was not at fault.

Malachi was buried in his Boy Scouts uniform, a family member said.

The community, including scout troops in Grand Ledge and Eaton Rapids, rallied around the family, raising money and building a new wheelchair ramp needed by Zephan while recovering from his injuries.

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Nathan Chance of Grand Ledge and his wife Carrie show Sparrow Pediatric employees Aileen Hansen and Karen Restum, right, a video of their late son Malachi on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, at Sparrow Hospital. The community gathered toys to donate to the Sparrow Pediatric Playroom in memory of his life. Malachi died Oct. 31, 2016, as a result of injuries sustained in an accident five days earlier when he and his brother were hit by a car while crossing the street.(Photo: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal)

The toy donation idea came from Mandi Woodward, a family friend who works with Carrie Chance at Capital Area Community Services Head Start and Early Childhood Programs.

Woodward contacted the Sparrow Foundation and spread the word around Head Start. Carrie Chance put it on Malachi's Facebook page. The hospital provided a wish list.

"It's really overwhelming and touching," said Woodward, who was at the hospital on Tuesday. "(Carrie is) a very, very, very strong mom. I watched her this past year go through everything, and I've been in awe of how she's handled everything that's happened. I was just kind of thinking forward: What could we do to kind of brighten a little bit of that?"

Tuesday's event was not planned to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Malachi's death, family members said. It just worked out that way. The same type of thing happened in October, when Sparrow's annual memorial for children who died fell on Malachi's birthday, they said.

"I think it was an awesome tribute," said Nathan Chance, Malachi's father. "He was the kind of person who people gravitated to, and he always wanted to help others. He's been able to do that, even a year later."

Hospital staff were delighted to have the toys and other donated items.

"They can be given as a present," said Aileen Hansen, a child life specialist. "The blankets are really helpful because they bring comfort, color. Kids need uplifting."

Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.